Plane kamikaze a Mitsubishi Ki-167 "Sakurada" (Japan)

In the autumn of 1944 the Japanese empire, faced with the most serious problems on all fronts, formed a connection pilots bombers. Up to a certain time kamikaze used only production aircraft with hung on them by bombs, but later came the proposal for the creation of specialized designs. Attempt to obtain the maximum possible combat power soon led to the emergence of the project of aircraft-kamikaze ki-167 "Sakurada". Special attacks, which were suicide bombers, operated various types of aircraft, both fighters and bombers. In particular, no later than early 1945, another means to attack enemy ships was heavy bomber mitsubishi ki-67 "Hiryu".

This car was put into service in the autumn of 1944 and was intended to bomb from horizontal flight, but the situation in the pacific forced the Japanese to use it as aircraft-kamikaze. Bomber-kamikaze ki-167 "Sakurada" and probably its pilot. Photo airwar.ru
the bomber for a kamikaze received the designation ki-67 "To-go" from "Tokubetsu kogeki" – "Special attack". Before the last flight of the serial car removed all or almost all (except feeding unit) defensive armament was removed a few places of the crew and hung a couple of bombs caliber 800 kg. The undermining of the bombs were made using a special contact fuse placed in the nose of the fuselage.

After such updating, the plane kept almost all of its flight characteristics. According to different sources, from autumn 1944 until the end of the war Japanese had to rebuild "That," not less than 15 and not more than 50 serial bombers ki-67. Some of these machines were used in battle and has shown very good results. A pair of 800-kg bombs could cause serious damage to any ship, and spreading upon impact, the fuel is increased the effect on the target. Some sources claim that at the very end of 1944 or early 1945, the idea of improving the combat capabilities of existing bomber bombers. For this purpose it was proposed to use the available foreign developments and new for Japanese aircraft weapons.

This proposal was accepted for implementation, and it resulted in a number of special aircraft ki-167 "Sakurada" (also it is possible to write "Sakura-dan"). However, it should be noted that the project ki-167 known to very few. In fact, we only know about the existence of such a project, while details of a technical nature still to be the topic of disputes. In the postwar period, all the documentation for this development were destroyed, and other sources did not allow to reconstruct the full picture. To date, compromise was reached.

Now the plane mitsubishi ki-167 "Sakurada" is another version of the serial bomber, designed to perform "Special attacks" with the help of special military equipment. In addition, it was made certain assumptions and plausible evaluation. In 1942, the Japanese experts obtained documentation on the german project cumulative / thermite ammunition of high power. Later they created a similar product and even tested it on one of the polygons. A special charge called "Sakurada" was equipped with a cylindrical body with a diameter of 1. 6 m and weighed 2900 kg directional charge created such a powerful stream of hot gases which could cause fatal damage to a variety of objects.

For example, during testing of such weapons destroyed serial Japanese tank from a distance of 300 m. Such a charge could be used to destroy a large and well-protected targets such as land tanks or ships. Before a certain time the product "Sakurada" remained without support and without real prospects. Opportunities for its use in practice found only in late 1944, shortly after the establishment of the kamikaze units. A particularly powerful charge to install one of the existing bombers, with no possibility of relief.

The plane and its crew in this case was to deliver the product to the purpose of their lives. The most convenient carrier promising charge decided a serial bomber ki-67 "Hiryu" from the company mitsubishi. Twin-engine aircraft showed sufficient performance characteristics, and in addition, had a relatively large fuselage inside which could accommodate "Sakurada". However, to solve this problem, it took a noticeable refining existing designs, and therefore the plane-kamikaze has received its own designation. Now he is known as the ki-167, directly points to the type of the underlying machine. Serial aircraft such as the ki-67.

Photo us air force
despite the need to modify the airframe, the new aircraft retains a lot of the basic features of the base. Ki-167 was supposed to stay mid with all-metal cantilever wing, which was located a couple of nacelles with the engines. The internal volume of the wing still could be used to house the fuel tanks. In the forward fuselage preserved cabin, directly behind it – the volume for payload.

It was there that it was proposed to place the product "Sakurada". The fuselage of the aircraft needed some processing, involving as power set,and paneling. When you save the glazed cabin of the navigator in the nose cone and a main compartment for pilots were required to alter groothousen. To achieve the desired military qualities of a large charge "Sakurada" should have been installed with an inclination forward, and therefore on top of the fuselage appeared a large speaker cone. Characteristic "Hump" could be almost the only external difference ki 167 ki-67. The aircraft still had to be completed with a trapezoidal wing with a small sweep of the leading edge.

On the center were placed two large nacelles for engines of air cooling. The tail unit consisted of a sagittal keel with a large sweep of the leading edge and the trapezoidal stabilizer. The mechanization of the wing consisted of flaps and ailerons; all the plane's tail had its handlebars. The power plant includes a pair of piston 18-cylinder engines mitsubishi ha-104 takeoff power at 1900 hp motor cooling was provided to the incoming air flow. Beside the motors were oil coolers.

On the shafts were installed four-bladed propellers of large diameter. Bomber ki-67 were equipped with three-point chassis with tail wheel. Main bearings were in the engine nacelles and retracted by turning back on the flight. The tail wheel was placed in the fuselage, with some shift forward. It was also able to get out in flight. Like other aircraft for "Special attacks", ki-167 "Sakurada" could lose defensive weapons.

Basic bomber ki-67 was equipped with five units with heavy machine guns and one 20 mm automatic cannon. The rejection of machine-gun and cannon armament allowed to lighten the car and get some reserve capacity for special payload. Charge "Sakurada" gathered in a large cylindrical housing with a diameter of 1. 6 m and a length of about 1. 5 m to the product with a mass of 2900 kg has not had a negative impact on flight data, it had to be placed directly at the center of gravity of the aircraft at the level of the existing gruzootseke. The housing is mounted on the upper surface of the fuselage, and slightly bowed forward. The latter was necessary for some increasing effects on the target.

The corps "Sakurabana" almost completely out of the contours of the top of the fuselage, and it had to cover the new fairing. Configuration of the aircraft ki-167. The side view shows the location of the charge "Sakurada". Figure airwar.ru
the undermining of warhead was to be made with a contact fuse. This device was a rod with a length of several meters and is located on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Rod length has been determined in accordance with the requirements of the shaped charge. The product "Sakurada" at the time of detonation was at an optimal distance from the target. According to various sources, control the aircraft ki-167 was a reduced crew. Various sources mention the need for one or two kamikaze pilots. Side of the arrow, naturally, was absent, as the task of protecting the aircraft from enemy interceptors were assigned to their fighters. Despite the redesign and installation of the new combat load, the aircraft kamikaze on the dimensions had to fit a basic car.

Length 18. 7 m, a wingspan of 22. 5 m parking height is 7. 7 m. Wing area – slightly less than 66 sq. M. After the applied modifications and the installation charge "Sakurada" dry weight bomber could increase to 8. 8-9 t normal take – of 15 tons cruising speed could remain at the same level – 400 km/h with a maximum of up to 500-520 km/h.

Practical range – not less than 2500-2600 km. While the actual combat radius would be limited to the physical and psychological capabilities of a single pilot. Accurate and verified information on construction, testing and operation of aircraft mitsubishi ki-167 "Sakurada" unfortunately, no. However, in different sources there are some data showing that the bomber kamikaze went into the series a few times and were used to attack ships of the U.S. Navy.

However, much of the success of this technique is not reached. In addition, available data on the combat ki-167 do not have sufficient evidence, and may be the result of confusion or mystification. Some sources claim that the project key 167 is not reached before the construction of skilled or production vehicles. However, there are photos of twin-engined bombers, with a characteristic "Hump" behind the cockpit. The presence of such historical evidence confirms the fact that "Sakurada" still brought at least to test. It is alleged that the company "Mitsubishi" has built (or converted from ready-made machines) the first key 167 in february 1945.

This technique gave army aviation, and she began preparations for the first sorties. Soon he was transferred to several cars. According to the most optimistic estimations, the army received up to a dozen aircraft. Preparation of equipment and pilots took a long time, and because "Sakurada" first went to the real purpose only april 17. Three aircraft-bombers, one of whom carried a shaped charge of high power, made in okinawa island to search for and attack the american carriers.

The commander, the pilot of the ki-167, reported the discovery of a goal and the beginning of the attack. However, his friends noticed thatthe plane on fire. Further, the car abruptly moved into the set and disappeared into the clouds. What happened to her after that is unknown. A side view of the aircraft ki-167.

Figure airwar.ru
according to other sources, on this day, Japanese pilots could not find the goal and decided to return to base. The media "Sakurabana" exploded in the air, probably because of damage of charge. Which of the two versions of reality, the install will not succeed. There is information about a new attack with a couple ki-167 on may 25th. According to them, the planes returned to base, but the circumstances of their deaths remained unknown.

It should be noted that on this day in the area of okinawa, two Japanese aircraft-bombers attacked a landing ship uss lsm-135 and sent it to the bottom. However, the incident report suggests that the ship sank light aircraft with bombs on board, and that definitely wasn't ki-167 products "Sakurada". Another alleged episode of combat use of aircraft ki-167 allegedly took place on 13 august 1945. The machine took off from one of the airfields on the Japanese islands and went to the area of identified goals. Along the way, they were discovered by american fighters.

Having no defensive weapons, a pair of suicide bombers was doomed. They were shot down over the sea before entering the combat course. Thus, different sources mention three episodes involving five aircraft ki-167, alleged in the final stage of the pacific war. Only one of the proposed missions could be completed with the successful destruction of an enemy ship, however, it seems that victory cannot be recorded at the expense of "Sakuradou". When it returned to the base not all the planes. September 2, 1945 Japan surrendered, that put an end to exploitation of various military equipment, including aircraft bombers.

The mitsubishi ki-167 "Sakurada" – if adopted – has so far not widespread and did not have time to demonstrate its full potential. According to available data, these planes did not destroy any one target, but slightly reduced the existing fleet of aircraft. It is unlikely that such results can be called outstanding. Shortly after the second world war, the project ki-167 was destroyed. These events led to the current lack of information, which now have to rely on estimates and assumptions and on information, not having a decent confirmation.

Over the past decade, the situation has not changed, and, apparently, accurate data about the project was lost forever. At the final stage of the pacific war the Japanese army used several options of retrofitting production aircraft of different types in percussion tools for pilots bombers. Project key 167, the proposed targets with a powerful warhead "Sakurada", stood out against this background and significantly increase the effectiveness of kamikaze attacks. However, this project did not yield the desired results. Even if this technique and reached the production and operation, and has failed to show its full potential.

None "Sakuracon" in the ki-167 was unable to damage the enemy ship that was to some extent hastened the defeat of Japan. Materials from sites:
http://airwar.ru/
http://pro-samolet. Ru/
http://aviastar. Org/
http://navsource. Org/
http://ww2today. Com/.

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